τυφλός (G5185) — Greek Lexicon

τυφλός

typhlós

G5185 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Primarily denotes lacking physical sight, i.e., unable to see (blind). In extended and metaphorical usage, it can refer to lacking perception, discernment, or insight (mentally or spiritually 'blind'). The term is most often used of those physically blind but is also applied metaphorically to those insensitive or unresponsive to moral, spiritual, or intellectual realities.

Semantic Range

physically blind, unable to see; mentally or spiritually lacking insight or perception; insensitive; unresponsive; figuratively closed to understanding or truth

Root / Etymology

From the root τυφλ-, connected with τυφόω ('to make smoke' or 'to blind'), perhaps related to an original notion of being 'smoky' or 'clouded in vision.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, τυφλός is used primarily for those who are physically unable to see, but already in early literature it could carry the meaning of lack of understanding or insight. In the Septuagint, τυφλός appears often in legal and narrative contexts to describe the physically sightless, paralleling the Hebrew עִוֵּר (ivver). In the New Testament, while it most frequently designates those who cannot see, it also acquires a figurative sense—especially in discussions about perception, understanding, or stubbornness (e.g., Matthew 15:14; John 9). In some idiomatic expressions, it denotes a lack of spiritual or moral insight (e.g., 'blind guides'). English translations render the term as 'blind,' which in context may miss the layered figurative meaning present in some passages. The metaphorical extension is already present in Hellenistic Greek, where 'typhlos' can signal insensitivity or ignorance. In contrast to related Greek terms for mental lack (e.g., ἀσύνετος, 'unintelligent'), τυφλός specifically evokes a sensory or perceptual incapacity, literal or figurative.

Translation Consistency

primary "blind" 49 occurrences

Most common and natural English rendering (47/49 instances). 'Blind' succinctly covers the primary literal sense (physically unable to see) and the extended metaphorical senses (lacking perception, insight, or responsiveness). It works naturally as the substantive/adjective used in the Greek and supports consistent rendering across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from, τυφόω; opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):--blind.

Root Family

τυφλός (typhlos) — blind, lacking perception, clouded vision

Root τυφλ- to be blind, to lack perception, to be clouded

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5185-06`	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind	15
`G5185-03`	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones	14
`G5185-05`	τυφλὸν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man	9
`G5185-08`	τυφλούς	tuphlous	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones	4
`G5185-07`	τυφλοῦ	tuphlou	`ADJ.S GEN M SG`	blind man’s	of a blind one	of a blind one	3
`G5185-04`	τυφλοῖς	tuphlois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	blind	to blind ones	to blind ones	2
`G5185-01`	τυφλέ	tuphle	`ADJ.A VOC M SG`	blind	Blind one	Blind one	1
`G5185-02`	τυφλῷ	tuphlo	`ADJ.S DAT M SG`	blind man	to a blind man	blind man	1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5185-03`	Matthew 9:27	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blind men	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 9:28	τυφλοί	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blind men	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 11:5	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	the blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-06`	Matthew 12:22	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-03`	Matthew 15:14	τυφλοί	tuphloi	`ADJ.A NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-06`	Matthew 15:14	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-05`	Matthew 15:14	τυφλὸν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-08`	Matthew 15:30	τυφλούς	tuphlous	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-08`	Matthew 15:31	τυφλοὺς	tuphlous	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	blind ones	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 20:30	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blind men	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 21:14	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 23:16	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 23:17	τυφλοί	tuphloi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 23:19	τυφλοί	tuphloi	`ADJ.S VOC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	Matthew 23:24	τυφλοί	tuphloi	`ADJ.A VOC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-01`	Matthew 23:26	τυφλέ	tuphle	`ADJ.A VOC M SG`	blind	Blind one	Blind one
`G5185-05`	Mark 8:22	τυφλὸν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	a blind man	blind man	a blind man
`G5185-07`	Mark 8:23	τυφλοῦ	tuphlou	`ADJ.S GEN M SG`	blind man	of a blind one	blind man
`G5185-06`	Mark 10:46	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.A NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-05`	Mark 10:49	τυφλὸν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	blind man	blind man	blind man
`G5185-06`	Mark 10:51	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind man	blind man	blind man
`G5185-04`	Luke 4:18	τυφλοῖς	tuphlois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	to the blind	to blind ones	to blind ones
`G5185-06`	Luke 6:39	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind man	blind man	blind man
`G5185-05`	Luke 6:39	τυφλὸν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S ACC M SG`	blind man	blind man	blind man
`G5185-04`	Luke 7:21	τυφλοῖς	tuphlois	`ADJ.S DAT M PL`	blind	to blind ones	to blind ones
`G5185-03`	Luke 7:22	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-08`	Luke 14:13	τυφλούς	tuphlous	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	the blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-08`	Luke 14:21	τυφλοὺς	tuphlous	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-06`	Luke 18:35	τυφλός	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-05`	John 5:3	τυφλῶν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S GEN M PL`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-05`	John 9:1	τυφλὸν	tuphlon	`ADJ.A ACC M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-06`	John 9:2	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-05`	John 9:13	τυφλόν	tuphlon	`ADJ.P ACC M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-02`	John 9:17	τυφλῷ	tuphlo	`ADJ.S DAT M SG`	blind man	to a blind man	blind man
`G5185-06`	John 9:18	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-06`	John 9:19	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-06`	John 9:20	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-06`	John 9:24	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-06`	John 9:25	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-07`	John 9:32	τυφλοῦ	tuphlou	`ADJ.S GEN M SG`	blind	of a blind one	of a blind one
`G5185-03`	John 9:39	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	John 9:40	τυφλοί	tuphloi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-03`	John 9:41	τυφλοὶ	tuphloi	`ADJ.P NOM M PL`	blind	blind ones	blind ones
`G5185-05`	John 10:21	τυφλῶν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S GEN M PL`	of the blind	blind man	blind man
`G5185-07`	John 11:37	τυφλοῦ	tuphlou	`ADJ.S GEN M SG`	blind man’s	of a blind one	of a blind one
`G5185-06`	Acts 13:11	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-05`	Romans 2:19	τυφλῶν	tuphlon	`ADJ.S GEN M PL`	of the blind	blind man	of blind men
`G5185-06`	2 Peter 1:9	τυφλός	tuphlos	`ADJ.P NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind
`G5185-06`	Revelation 3:17	τυφλὸς	tuphlos	`ADJ.S NOM M SG`	blind	blind man	blind man

← G5184 Greek Lexicon G5186 →